AI Protests Arrest Of General

Amnesty International (AI) accused Sri Lanka's government of stepping up a "crackdown on political opposition” after the arrest of the defeated candidate in last month's presidential vote.

Sarath Fonseka's arrest continues government's post-election crackdown on political opposition," said Sam Zarifi, Amnesty Internationals Asia-Pacific director. His detention "escalates post-election repression," said AI in a statement released in London.

"Instead of steering the country toward a better human rights record we're seeing less and less tolerance for criticism,” states AI. Since his defeat in the election, several of Gen. Fonseka’s key supporters have been arrested said AI.

Journalists with the state media suspected of supporting the opposition candidate had also faced threats and violence, the group added.